By Matúš Beňo

Copyright sme

Good evening. Here is the Tuesday, September 23 edition of Today in Slovakia – the main news of the day in a few minutes.

Thousands rally once again against austerity

Thousands of Slovaks protested against austerity measures in 19 towns, at rallies organised by opposition parties Progressive Slovakia (PS), SaS, KDH and non-parliamentary Demokrati. The Slovensko movement of Igor Matovič was not invited.

The largest demonstration took place in Bratislava, where about 10,000 people filled Námestie Slobody square—down from 16,000 last week. Around 5,000 joined in Košice, 2,000 in Trnava, 1,000 each in Martin and Trenčín.

In Trenčín, the so-called “consolidation wafers” with homemade marmalade were distributed, mocking Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický’s suggestion that people save money by making marmalade at home. “Consolidation marmalade” was distributed before the rally in Banská Bystrica.

In Ružomberok, frustration over delays to a long-promised bypass sparked calls to “turn off Slovakia” by blocking an important crossroads so that “politicians in Bratislava take notice.” Transport Minister Jozef Ráž recently postponed the project’s completion from late 2025 to mid-2026.

Although led by opposition parties, public figures also joined the stages. “I hope we all want to live in a prosperous country from which our children do not run away. I am Slovak, I am European, and I do not want to live to see the day when I have to apply for citizenship of another country in order to be an EU citizen,” said businesswoman Blažena Ambróz Sedrovičová at the Bratislava rally.

Also in Bratislava, KDH chair Milan Majerský declared that his party was present when former infamous PM Vladimír Mečiar fell, and would be there when PM Robert Fico falls. “This government’s time is almost up,” he said. But the crowd responded by chanting: “Then do not vote with Fico!”—a jab at KDH MPs who may back Fico’s controversial constitutional amendment.

Alojz Hlina (SaS) announced another protest and march in two weeks, while trade unions plan a separate demonstration next week. A major rally is also scheduled for November 17 as the government mules

Demokrati leader Jaroslav Naď brought his 17-year-old son Daniel on stage, who urged young people to speak up or risk “ending up like young people in Russia who are isolated and poor.”

Youth voices were central at the Žilina rally as well. Patrik Žemla from Progressive Slovakia’s youth organisation Mladí PS criticised leaders “unable to write a thesis themselves,” in reference to plagiarism scandal and the new allegations against spy chief Pavol Gašpar. KDH youth leader Damián Gloser also appealed to his peers not to remain silent.

MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE

POLITICS: The director of Slovakia’s intelligence service, Pavol Gašpar, reportedly plagiarised his diploma thesis on corruption, with two-thirds copied from four different sources.BUSINESS: Half of Slovak startups already sell abroad, but sales skills, funding access and diversity remain key hurdles to unlocking their full potential, a report shows.INFRASTRUCTURE: A seemingly insignificant road road near Prešov in eastern Slovakia holds a record: it is the most dilapidated road of its category. DELICACIES: The state-run company Lesy SR has opened its first shop in Bratislava, offering products ranging from spruce tip syrup to venison, fish and honey.SLOVAKS ABROAD: An American’s initiative brought a statue of the patron of migrants and travellers to Habovka, a small village in northern Slovakia, where his grandfather had been born. OBITUARY: Peter Matyšák, who put Slovak wine on the world map, dies at 73.GAMBLING: The town of Komárno is locked in a battle against a new casino being planned on its outskirts – a project that local officials say threatens its image and development strategy.

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FEATURE STORY

Masaryk’s secret letter

Some joked it would turn out to be a recipe for a sponge cake, while others expected it might reveal the Slovak origins of the first Czechoslovak president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.

A few days ago, his letter, hidden for decades, was opened by historians. According to Dagmar Hájková, the letter also serves as a manual on how to treat the inhabitants of multinational Czechoslovakia. It mentions Slovakia specifically.

EVENT FOR FRIDAY

Science in cool

The last Friday of September is inextricably linked to the Noc Vedy science festival, the biggest event of its kind in Slovakia, offering a unique opportunity to discover for yourself what science is about. The event will take place predominantly in five towns across country – Bratislava, Košice, Banská Bystrica, Žilina and Poprad, with some accompanying events in other places as well. Noc Vedy features a lot of hands-on experiments, discussions, workshops, technological attractions, and various activities. Admission to the event is completely free. Click here to find out more about the programme.

IN OTHER NEWS

Opposition movement Slovensko considers Slovakia’s exclusion from an upcoming videoconference on drone defence along Europe’s eastern border a direct threat to national security. The movement blames the government’s foreign policy and its so-called “four cardinal directions” approach. “This policy does not work and it is bringing shame to Slovakia,” said MP Gábor Grendel. In response, President Peter Pellegrini said he will meet Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák and the Chief of General Staff to discuss how to secure Slovakia’s airspace so the country does not become “an unsecured hole into western Europe.” Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár described the talks as preliminary and argued that Slovakia’s absence was not the result of its foreign policy. (TASR)The parliamentary committee for European affairs on Tuesday approved a resolution in response to Russia’s violation of Polish airspace during attacks on Ukraine. The resolution expresses solidarity with Poland, supports the activation of Article 4, and calls for strengthening joint defence mechanisms and diplomatic cooperation within the EU and NATO. (TASR)In response to Prime Minister Robert Fico’s claims of fraudulent conduct, Marta Šimečková and her colleague Andrea Puková announced they will file a criminal complaint for defamation. Šimečková, the mother of Progressive Slovakia chair Michal Šimečka, rejected the PM’s accusations that they sought state funding for personal enrichment. (TASR)Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover has postponed the restart of production until at least October 1, after initially planning to resume on September 24. The delay is linked to an ongoing forensic analysis of a recent cyberattack. (TASR)The Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok ruled that far-right agitator Daniel Bombic, charged with extremist offences, will remain in custody. The verdict is not final, as Bombic has appealed. The Supreme Court will decide on the case. (TASR)

WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Rain is expected overnight in many areas, with cloudy to overcast skies during the day and occasional showers. Daily temperatures will range from 9°C in the Orava region in the north to 22°C in the east. A Level 1 wind warning has been issued for districts in southeastern Slovakia. (SHMÚ)

SEPTEMBER 24 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Wednesday belongs to Ľuboš and Ľubor — congrats to everyone celebrating.

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